Sumiyoshi
住吉
[Genre] | Sokyoku |
[Style] | Uta mono |
[School] | Yamada Ryū - 山田 |
[Composed] | Yamada Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
Sumiyoshi is the name of a Shinto shrine in Settsu, a seaside resort in the southern part of the present Osaka. It attracted many pilgrims because of its beautiful beach and pine groves, and particularly for one of the venerable twin pines (called 'Ajoi no matsu'), which were regarded as the symbol of a long and happy married life. The god of Sumiyoshi was worshipped as the patron of art of poetry (waka). This piece is one of Yamada's early works and is included in his 'Seven Popular Compositions,' which are classified in the naka (interior) category. The composition is characterized by the inclusion of a kaeshi, a repetition of the melody with a slightly different verse (Wasuregai and Wasuregusa). Also in the last interlude (ainote), the first section of Rokudan no shirabe, a popular dan-mono piece, is skillfully incorporated. These are two of Yamada's original compositional devices. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
Aged for thousands of years, Deep is the hue of the evergreen Against the fresh snow. At last my fervent wish Is fulfilled: Today I have arrived from afar At the Sumiyoshi Shrine. The year is new And all is peaceful. Visible above the waves Until yesterday, Awaji Island Is now veiled in spring mists. The spacious shrine precincts In their sacred purity Remind me of the mythological Aoki Plain (1). Year after countless year Frost has formed On the crossbeams of the shrine gable, And the unchanging pine trees Stand for the unbroken vow. Compared to their Bounteous leaves of words My poems are fruitless efforts. So I come to pray To the god of Sumiyoshi, The patron of the art of poetry. Even more than The four seasons Love is a difficult subject For poetry. A verse may seem acceptable, But it is not, And one is at his wit's end To be grammatical. So high and low, The pilgrims come In hopes of improving Their poetry. The women of Naniwa (2) Are known for their singing. Even when they don't try, They sing with style. 'Forgetting shells' don't really Help to forget. Once together, half shells Split apart. Since then I count the days To the time When together we may View spring flowers again. 'Forgetting grass' doesn't really Help to forget. It may grow thick and luxuriant But then it withers. The nights pass one after the next As I wait for the time When together we may View the autumn moon again. Is there no way to forget? The shining Prince Genji Once visited this shrine With his followers To offer up his thanks (3). This custom is followed Even today. Against the deep green Of the pine trees, Their robes were gorgeous, Like the blossoms of spring And the foliage of fall Combined. The sight was magnificent Beyond words. As evening fell The moon rose, And wind began to blow Through the pines On the beach, The wind began to blow Through the beach pines. Surrounding like the koto which First brought the two together (4). May the blessings Of the seven great shrines Be bountiful And eternal And may the way of song Prosper forever, May the way of song Prosper forever. (1) Aoki Plain (Aokigahara) is a place name in northern Kyushu where, according to the Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan, Izanagi no Mikoto is said to have performed a certain purification rite. (2) Naniwa is the old name for Osaka and is located near Sumiyoshi. (3) This passage refers to an incident from the 'Channel Buoys' (Miotsukushi) chapter of 'The Tale of Genji,' when Genji visits the Sumiyoshi Shrine to offer up his thanks for his marriage to the Lady from Akashi. (4) The sound of Genji's koto played a critical role in his first meeting with Lady Akashi. | (maebiki) Issennen no iro wa yuki no uchi ni fukaki negai mo kyoo koso wa harubaru kinuru tabi-goromo Hi mo uraraka ni yomo no sora kasuminikeri na kinoo made namima ni mieshi awajishima aokigahara mo omoiyaru geni hiromae no sugasugashi (ainote) Katasogi no yukiai no shimo no ikukaeri chigiri ya musubu sumiyoshi no matsu no omowan kotonoha wo waga mi ni hazuru shikishima no michi wo mamori no kami nareba shiki no gagame no sono ue ni koi wa kotosara nandaigachi ni (ai) yometa yoo demo yomioosarezu teniha chigai ni kokoro wo tsukushi takai mo hikui mo ayumi wo hakobu nakaoshiteru ya naniwame no yoshi ashi to naku karisome ni ytoo hitofushi miyabi naru (ainote) Wasuregai to no na wa soragoto yo oote wakarete sono nochi wa mata no hanami wo tanoshimi ni hikazu kazoete omoidasu (ainote) Wasuregasa to no na wa itsuwari wo shigerite karete sorekara wa nochi no tsukimi wo tanoshimi ni yowa wo tsumitsutsu omoidasu Haru ya aki sonokami yo ni hikaru kimi gotan-hatashi no yossoi no ima ni taesezu oku wa nao fukamidori naru sono naka ni hana ya momiji wo hitotoki ni kokichirashitaru nigiwai wa fude mo kotoba mo oyobinaki Orishimo tsuki no ideshio ni tsurete fukikuru matsukaze no tsurete (ainote) fukikuru matsukaze no kayoo wa koto no negai mo mitsu ya yotsu no yashiro no on-megumi nao ikuchiyo mo kagiri naki michi no sakae to shukushikeri michi no sakae to shukushikeri |
Sumiyoshi appears on the following albums
Album | Artist | |
Hozumi Tsurezure Volume 2 |
Shamisen : Yamaguchi Hozumi Koto : Ōtani Tosumi Koto : Kimura Chizumi Shakuhachi : Matsuyama Ryūmei | |
Sankyoku Gassō Dai Zenshū vol. 23 (三曲合奏大全集23) |
Shakuhachi : Mitsuhashi Kifu Voice : Itō Mieko Voice : Itō Manami Koto : Itō Manami Shamisen : Yamato Ikubo Koto : Itō Shōchō I | |
Sokyoku Jiuta Taikei 49 |
Koto : Nakanoshima Kin'ichi Voice : Nakanoshima Keiko | |
Yamada Kengyō wo Utao Disk 3 |
Voice : Fujii Chiyoga II |